United Spinal News

Officials Unveil New Wheelchair-Accessible Cab

The first vehicle designed from the ground-up to be wheelchair accessible and was recently approved for use as a taxi was unveiled in Midtown.

Disability Advocates Hail Two Major Victories Against City

There was a time in New York City when a wheelchair was an insurmountable barrier to getting around town. Buses had no lifts and subways no elevators. Cabs were only accessible to the able bodied.
All that has changed — though not without major fights, and two recent victories that promise to make taxis more open [...]

Judge Rules City Taxi System Violates the Rights of the Disabled

The city’s taxi system discriminates against the disabled, a federal judge ruled Friday. U.S. District Judge George Daniels said the Taxi & Limousine Commission is in violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act and ordered the city to develop a comprehensive long-term plan to provide “meaningful access” to taxis to the disabled.

Access-a-Ride Program in Fast Lane for Change?

Last week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation allowing livery cars to pick up street hails, on the condition that that the Bloomberg administration figure out how to put more wheelchair-accessible taxis on the road. Then, late Friday, a federal judge said the city’s current policy violated aspects of the Americans with Disabilities Act. He, too, required the city to submit a plan to address the violations. Advocates now believe the existing transportation services for disabled riders should be overhauled as the city rethinks the taxi fleet’s accessibility.

Provisions of New York City’s Livery Cab Bill

New York City Governor Andrew Cuomo and lawmakers reached a last-minute deal Tuesday, December 20 to approve a bill that permits livery cabs to pick up street hails and also promises a major revenue boost for the city.
Below are specific provisions of the bill:
-The City may issue 2,000 new taxi medallions which will permit [...]

Wheelchair Accessible Taxi Gets its Day in Court

Attorneys for the plaintiffs, as well as the Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District, argued that the city is in violation of the law — the Americans with Disabilities Act — since it runs a public transportation system, yet only 2 percent of cabs in the city can accommodate people in wheelchairs.

Wheelchair Users Stage ‘Roll-In’ Protest Against ‘Taxi of Tomorrow’

Wearing yellow buttons stating “Separate is NOT equal,” a dozen advocates in wheelchairs rolled into the “Taxi of Tomorrow” exhibit near Madison Square Park Thursday to raise concerns about the lack of disability access in the city’s forthcoming fleet of cabs.

Bloomberg Pushes Back Over Wheelchair-Accessible Cabs

To Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the theoretical space between the backseat and front in wheelchair-accessible cabs seems dangerous. “I think you’re going to see suits about people getting up trying to get across the divide. There is so much more space between the back seat and the divider. People are going to get hurt,” said Bloomberg.

Those in wheelchairs call foul.

Proposed Livery Cab Bill Leaves Out the Disabled

The trip from Inwood to City Hall is arduous for anyone, but for Edith Prentiss, there is the added challenge of finding subway stations with ramps and elevators for wheelchairs. Prentiss is disabled, and as a resident of upper Manhattan where yellow cabs rarely go, she finds travel even more difficult.
“I want to get some [...]

Push for Cab Access Grows

The Justice Department says New York City taxis must be accessible to all people with disabilities. The federal government sided with four disabled-rights groups that filed a lawsuit in January, including United Spinal.

Categories